2G: Goenka's wife skips witness box citing mother's illness

Goenka's wife Aseela Vinod Goenka, who was to testify as CBI witness, did not turn up before Special Judge O P Saini and her deposition was postponed till a new date is fixed.

Appearing for the Swan Telecom promoter Goenka, advocate Majeed Menon told the court that Aseela Goenka's 82-year-old mother has fallen ill and has been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, rendering her unable to come here for deposition.

Six co-accused facing trial in the case, former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Director Asif Balwa, Cineyug Films Director Karim Morani and Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra, today submitted their passports to the court.

These six had gone abroad with the court's permission from June 8 to June 30 during summer vacation for varying reasons.

As the proceedings resumed today, all accused, including former Telecom Minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi, appeared before the court and six of them submitted their passports as per the court's earlier direction to them.

The court had directed Behura to furnish a surety of Rs five lakh as he is a "retired public servant", while the other five were asked to furnish a bond of Rs 20 lakh each before taking up their respective foreign visits. (More)